NBA player Jason Collins comes out as gay

[Elspeth]

Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now

This story appears in the May 6, 2013, issue of Sports Illustrated.

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons....

...I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 Gay Pride Parade. I'm seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I'd been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, "Me, too."

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mag...#ixzz2RsPfjTYR

[Generation Why?]

Just a matter of time. Liked the way he went about it. Best of luck to hike on the rest of his career.

[Bailey]

Back in the day people had the decency to keep their perversions under wraps. I guess those days are over :(

[Novaheart]

Mark Levin was rather disappointing on this subject tonight. It seems his objection was that he had never heard of this player and that Collins only scores 2 pts per game. It seemed a bit petty.

I would be a liar if I didn't confess that I also wish it had been someone better known and better looking. Peja Stojakovic perhaps.

[NJCardFan]

It's bad enough he came out(his choice) but what does the fact that he's black have to do with it? Are whites the only one's who are gay?

[LukeEDay]

The MSM is going nuts over this. They are all applauding him for it. I'm not sure what the being black comment has to do with anything? There are a lot of people in pro sports who are gay. Look for them to come out now that he did. It won't be long until you see separate showers for the players here.

[txradioguy]

Mark Levin was rather disappointing on this subject tonight. It seems his objection was that he had never heard of this player and that Collins only scores 2 pts per game. It seemed a bit petty.

I would be a liar if I didn't confess that I also wish it had been someone better known and better looking. Peja Stojakovic perhaps.

Actually what you're lying about is what you characterize as Levin's only "objection".

There is nothing courageous about what Collins did. Courageous is declaring something like that while you're a member of the Iranian or Saudi Arabian national team. Make that declaration in America and yo get praise by the President via the Spokesdork at the WH.

Like Levin said...so now we know what kind of sex he likes to have and who he likes to have it with. Big deal. What does that have to do with the sport he plays?

But to sit there and say that the only comment Levin had on it was the fact he average's 2.0 points a game is lying by omission on your part. That comment was made as he was coming back form commercial after the opening segment of the show...which he kicked off talking about Jason Collins.

You're acting like the first 5-8 minutes of the show didn't happen.

[Odysseus]

Like Levin said...so now we know what kind of sex he likes to have and who he likes to have it with. Big deal. What does that have to do with the sport he plays?

Well, clearly he ought to be better at penetration and taking it to the hole...

[Novaheart]

You're acting like the first 5-8 minutes of the show didn't happen.

All I heard him go on about was how unimportant the guy is. After about the tenth refrain and the caller I probably switched over to Hugh Hewitt.

[txradioguy]

Just a matter of time. Liked the way he went about it. Best of luck to hike on the rest of his career.

His contract ended last week. His career is done. Hence the reason he made the announcement.